Brandin Podziemski or Naji Marshall? Week 1
Who to start in fantasy basketball in Week 1 (Oct 19-25), PGs ranked 22nd and 23rd at the position, compared on 2025-26 per-game production.
- FP/G
- 27.7
- 9-cat
- #114
- Last 10 FP
- 31.6
3 games in Week 1, 1 back-to-back
Week 1 pick in 9-cat leagues.
- FP/G
- 27.7
- 9-cat
- #152
- Last 10 FP
- 32.1
3 games in Week 1, 1 back-to-back
Week 1 pick in points leagues.
The Week 1 call
Points leagues, Week 1 (Oct 19-25): start Naji Marshall. Both have 3 games left in Week 1 (Oct 19-25), so it comes down to per game: 27.7 fantasy points to 27.7.
9-cat leagues: Brandin Podziemski instead, -5.1 category value for the week to -7.6, because his category mix is worth more there.
Brandin Podziemski has 1 back-to-back and Naji Marshall has 1 back-to-back in Week 1, the nights rest days tend to land on.
Brandin Podziemski played 28.7 minutes a game over his last 5 games of 2025-26, in line with his 28.5 on the board.
Naji Marshall played 27.6 minutes a game over his last 5 games of 2025-26, in line with his 29.5 on the board.
This is the call for one lineup slot across the week, the way weekly-lock leagues play it. In a daily-lineup league, start whichever of the two plays that night, and both when they fit.
Week 1 (Oct 19-25), side by side
| This week | Brandin Podziemski | Naji Marshall |
|---|---|---|
| Games, Week 1 | 3 | 3 |
| Games counted (left this week) | 3 | 3 |
| Back-to-backs | 1 | 1 |
| Games, Week 2 | 4 | 3 |
| Minutes, last games | 28.7 (last 5) | 27.6 (last 5) |
| Minutes, board | 28.5 | 29.5 |
| Shots per 36, last games | 15.5 | 16.2 |
| Injury | None listed | None listed |
| Projected fantasy points | 83.0 | 83.2 |
| Projected 9-cat value | -5.1 | -7.6 |
Schedule: Brandin Podziemski Wed @LAL, Fri MEM, Sat @PHX. Naji Marshall Wed @HOU, Fri @IND, Sat SAS.
Projected totals for the games counted
| Stat | Brandin Podziemski | Naji Marshall |
|---|---|---|
| Points | 41.5 | 45.7 |
| Rebounds | 15.3 | 14.1 |
| Assists | 11.1 | 9.8 |
| Steals | 3.2 | 3.3 |
| Blocks | 0.5 | 0.2 |
| Threes | 5.6 | 2.5 |
| Turnovers | 4.8 | 4.8 |
Each projection is the board's per-game line times the games counted; a player listed Out counts none. 9-cat value is the per-game category score (z-scores against the top 156) times games. Minutes and shots per 36 come from the last 5 games of 2025-26. Schedule from the NBA's published slate via ESPN.
The season-long call
Points leagues: Naji Marshall, 27.7 fantasy points per game to 27.7.
9-cat leagues: Brandin Podziemski instead, 114th overall against 152nd, because the categories reward a different mix.
Brandin Podziemski vs Naji Marshall: the full comparison, per 36 and by punt build
Per game, side by side
| Stat | Brandin Podziemski | Naji Marshall |
|---|---|---|
| Fantasy points per game | 27.7 | 27.7 |
| Minutes | 28.5 | 29.5 |
| PointsPTS | 13.8 | 15.2 |
| ReboundsREB | 5.1 | 4.7 |
| AssistsAST | 3.7 | 3.3 |
| StealsSTL | 1.1 | 1.1 |
| BlocksBLK | 0.2 | 0.1 |
| Threes3PM | 1.9 | 0.8 |
| Field goal %FG% | 45.5% | 51.0% |
| Free throw %FT% | 79.7% | 76.0% |
| TurnoversTO | 1.6 | 1.6 |
Bold is the better number. Per-game lines blend last season with this one, the same numbers the rankings use.
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Other close calls
Week 1 streamers · NBA waiver wire · Games per team this week
Common questions
Should I start Brandin Podziemski or Naji Marshall in Week 1?
Points leagues, Week 1 (Oct 19-25): start Naji Marshall. Both have 3 games left in Week 1 (Oct 19-25), so it comes down to per game: 27.7 fantasy points to 27.7. 9-cat leagues: Brandin Podziemski instead, -5.1 category value for the week to -7.6, because his category mix is worth more there. Brandin Podziemski has 1 back-to-back and Naji Marshall has 1 back-to-back in Week 1, the nights rest days tend to land on. Brandin Podziemski played 28.7 minutes a game over his last 5 games of 2025-26, in line with his 28.5 on the board. Naji Marshall played 27.6 minutes a game over his last 5 games of 2025-26, in line with his 29.5 on the board.
Who is better for the season, Brandin Podziemski or Naji Marshall?
Points leagues: Naji Marshall, 27.7 fantasy points per game to 27.7. 9-cat leagues: Brandin Podziemski instead, 114th overall against 152nd, because the categories reward a different mix.
Who wins more categories, Brandin Podziemski or Naji Marshall?
Brandin Podziemski is ahead in 5 (rebounds, assists, blocks, threes, free throw percentage); Naji Marshall in 3 (points, steals, field goal percentage), per game.
By the Parlae deskBoard updated Oct 13, 2026 at 8:41 PM ETHow this is builtReport a wrong number